The suspect, identified as Stephen Spruce, allegedly arrived at an Emerald Trail residence in Acworth in an attempt to convince his wife to return home. His wife was staying with her aunt and uncle after Spruce allegedly slashed all four of her car’s tires, according to the incident report.
When Spruce arrived at the home, his wife and her aunt and uncle went outside and attempted to convince him to leave. Spruce was “ranting and raving,” according to the report, and he allegedly had a black handgun that he was waving around.
According to the incident report, Spruce came at the three victims and chased them up the home’s driveway. However, he never pointed the handgun at the victims. He left the scene a short time later.
A Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputy later arrived on the scene and spoke with the victim’s uncle. He said Spruce took out a knife at some point and punctured the driver’s side rear tire on his car. After that, the uncle said, he was able to convince Spruce to leave.
The deputy also spoke with the victim, who said there was also a .22-caliber rifle in Spruce’s home in addition to the handgun.
While the deputy was speaking to the victim, Spruce sent her a text message saying that if she did not come home, he would come get her. The deputy asked her not to say she was talking to the police.
Bartow County Dispatch was able to locate Spruce at his home in Acworth. After securing warrants for his arrest, BCSO deputies met with Acworth police, who said they wanted BCSO to serve the warrants.
Once the officers arrived at Spruce’s home, a number of them took up positions around the residence while a group of three officers approached the front door, which was ajar.
According to the incident report, Spruce was seen sitting on a recliner in the living room, with the black handgun allegedly laying on the armrest. As they entered the home, officers ordered Spruce to raise his hands.
Spruce, according to the report, “sat motionless and expressionless for several seconds.” Officers continued to order him to raise his hands and step away from the gun. Spruce reportedly put his right hand into the air, but put his left hand onto the gun’s grip.
The deputies ordered him a third time to put his hands in the air and step away from the gun. According to the report, Spruce “popped up out of the chair with both hands in the air.”
Spruce walked toward the officers, but did not comply with their orders to lay on the floor. A BCSO deputy attempted to knock Spruce onto the floor, but he remained on his feet. A second officer then struck Spruce in the face with his fist, which caused Spruce to fall onto the couch.
A BCSO deputy then took control of Spruce and placed him under arrest.
Spruce began screaming at the officers as they searched him for weapons, but none were found. The black handgun was identified as a Walther P99, which was loaded.
Spruce’s mouth was bloody after the incident and Acworth police called fire and emergency medical services to the scene. However, Spruce refused to let them check his injury.
Spruce was then transported to Bartow County Jail. Upon arrival he became uncooperative with the jail staff and was taken to an isolation cell, according to the incident report. While jail deputies were processing Spruce, he allegedly made the comment that he should have shot the officers while he had the chance.
Spruce was charged with aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, possession of firearm or knife while trying to commit crimes, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and criminal trespass (F.V.A.).